Mike Marrujo of Placentia Valencia applauds his players after he achieved his 300th career victory. He recently announced retirement. Photo: Laura Nunez/OCSidelines.com.
State record list of state’s all-time winningest coaches (all reported and confirmed above 200 wins) has been updated after all results of 2015 season. Highlights of top achievements also compiled and written up. Note: State Coaches of the Year to be announced on Monday.
For the updated state record lists for most career coaching wins (including six new previously unreported entries), which exists only on CalHiSports.com, CLICK HERE.
Note: All state record files are for Gold Club members only. We have raised our rates slightly, but it’s now available for a three-month rate of $9.99. Some of our all-state football content also will be Gold Club and we’ll be offering football coverage long into February past signing day. For sign up info, CLICK HERE.
(All coaching milestones during 2015 football season are listed in alphabetical order)
Roger Canepa (Central Catholic, Modesto)
Last season’s Cal-Hi Sports State Small Schools Coach of the Year earned his 200th career win in the Raiders’ season opener against Atwater (a 49-0 triumph). He ended the season with a fourth straight CIF state title, which ties the record for consecutive CIF state titles with De La Salle’s Bob Ladouceur.
Rich Cotruvo (Justin-Siena, Napa)
With his team’s 55-14 triumph vs. Tamalpais of Mill Valley, Cotruvo joined those in the club with 200 career wins. His team finished 9-3 after a loss to Cardinal Newman of Santa Rosa in the CIF North Coast Section Division IV playoffs.
Mike Janda (Bellarmine, San Jose)
When the Bells defeated Folsom in the CIF NorCal DI-AA regional bowl game, it was Janda’s 270th career win. He also moved in front of Saratoga’s Benny Pierce as the winningest in CIF Central Coast Section history.
Bob Johnson (Mission Viejo)
He became only the second coach in state history to win a CIF state title while having more than 300 wins (Bob Ladouceur was the first) when the Diablos blanked Bellarmine in the CIF D1-AA state bowl game. Johnson’s overall total also has now been turned in by hobbyist Dennis Bateman with year-by-year breakdowns including first seasons at Los Amigos of Fountain Valley. It has been adjusted to 315 wins.
Matt Logan (Centennial, Corona)
Our State Coach of the Year for 2004 reached 200 career wins when the Huskies beat Orange Lutheran 35-14 in their third game of the season. His squad also made it 10 CIF Southern Section titles when it topped St. John Bosco to win its second consecutive CIFSS Pac-5 Division crown.
This banner was unfurled for Centennial’s Matt Logan. Photo: Twitter.com.
Mike Marrujo (Valencia, Placentia)
In what turned out to be his final season (see below), Marrujo won his 300th game when the Tigers topped Kennedy of La Palma 42-0. Valencia later completed an unbeaten regular season and was 11-0 when it lost to Villa Park in a 11-0 vs. 11-0 CIFSS Southwest Division quarterfinal.
RETIRING/RESIGNING COACHES (YOU’RE ALL LEGENDARY IN OUR BOOK)
John Barnes (Los Alamitos)
We are going with a total for Barnes that was submitted to us and to the Orange County Register by hobbyist Dennis Bateman. When Barnes recently announced his retirement, the Register reported him with 321 wins. That was the total compiled by Bateman, who also provided year-by-year totals that checked out. Barnes began coaching for the Griffins in 1979 after his initial season at Anaheim Magnolia.
Mike Marrujo (Valencia, Placentia)
Orange County is losing another of its all-time best with Marrujo. He started coaching in 1977 and now-closed Pius X of Downey.
Troy Starr (Helix, La Mesa)
His departure at Helix was described as a resignation when it was announced in October. Starr, 52, also missed a game late in the season to be with his wife in a hospital. He was the head coach at Helix for eight seasons and was previously the head coach at Taft of Woodland Hills. Helix won the CIF San Diego Section Open Division title in Starr’s final season.
COACHES WHO LED IN AWFUL CIRCUMSTANCES
Mike Alberghini (Grant, Sacramento)
He had to step in front of TV cameras and reporters for many days in the aftermath of the shooting death of one of his players, senior J.J. Clauvo, just hours before the Pacers’ first section playoff game.
Bill Foltmer (Middletown)
Six of Foltmer’s players and three of his assistant coaches all lost homes in the massive Valley Fire in mid-September. The town in which Foltmer’s team represents also was basically destroyed (although the school itself survived). Middletown ended the season at 6-5.
Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Mark on the Cal-Hi Sports Twitter handle: @CalHiSports
One Comment
I had the great HONOR of playing for Coach Benny Peirce in the 1970’s Among many amazing people I have met and known I still rank him tops among all in my esteem, admiration and sage advice